James Dalrymple
@jamesewand.bsky.social
Teaching/lecturing in France. Occasional academic.
Cinema, books, music, vintage television, podcasts (usually while cooking for the family), teaching, life in France etc.
Film reviews at: letterboxd.com/jamesewand/
Cinema, books, music, vintage television, podcasts (usually while cooking for the family), teaching, life in France etc.
Film reviews at: letterboxd.com/jamesewand/
yes, definitely a good history lesson, I'll give it that
November 27, 2025 at 9:36 AM
yes, definitely a good history lesson, I'll give it that
Aw man, I was psyched to see this but the Blu-ray arrived broken in the box. Waiting for a refund before reordering
November 27, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Aw man, I was psyched to see this but the Blu-ray arrived broken in the box. Waiting for a refund before reordering
I found it rather didactic (like being lectured at), but then I often find that with Loach
November 27, 2025 at 6:38 AM
I found it rather didactic (like being lectured at), but then I often find that with Loach
He's also great earlier in the 60s in The Hustler and Hud. Amazing career
November 27, 2025 at 5:21 AM
He's also great earlier in the 60s in The Hustler and Hud. Amazing career
I didn't mind Newman here but the role pales in comparison to many of his characters from that decade. I didn't feel much chemistry between him and Julie Andrews either
November 27, 2025 at 4:34 AM
I didn't mind Newman here but the role pales in comparison to many of his characters from that decade. I didn't feel much chemistry between him and Julie Andrews either
Fascinating! The irony is that Hermann was right about Psycho, but not about Torn Curtain (or, at least, not about *that scene*). The double irony is that the title Torn Curtain also nods back to the shower scene in Psycho, the most famous merging of their combined talents
November 27, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Fascinating! The irony is that Hermann was right about Psycho, but not about Torn Curtain (or, at least, not about *that scene*). The double irony is that the title Torn Curtain also nods back to the shower scene in Psycho, the most famous merging of their combined talents
Reposted by James Dalrymple
Looks like it was the final straw...
Herrmann and Hitchcock – The Torn Curtain – The Bernard Herrmann Society share.google/2gomJDFl0KdZ...
Herrmann and Hitchcock – The Torn Curtain – The Bernard Herrmann Society share.google/2gomJDFl0KdZ...
Herrmann and Hitchcock – The Torn Curtain – The Bernard Herrmann Society
The Bernard Herrmann Society - Society for the Appreciation of the Music of Bernard Herrmann (1911-1975)
share.google
November 26, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Looks like it was the final straw...
Herrmann and Hitchcock – The Torn Curtain – The Bernard Herrmann Society share.google/2gomJDFl0KdZ...
Herrmann and Hitchcock – The Torn Curtain – The Bernard Herrmann Society share.google/2gomJDFl0KdZ...
Yes, it's interesting thinking of the movie in that context.
November 26, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Yes, it's interesting thinking of the movie in that context.
Oh? I'll have to look into that!
November 26, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Oh? I'll have to look into that!
Well... you don't get characters going at it hammer and tong like in Lust Caution but yes. Notorious is off the charts horny!
I wasn't much feeling the chemistry between Paul Newman and Julie Andrews though, I have to admit
I wasn't much feeling the chemistry between Paul Newman and Julie Andrews though, I have to admit
November 26, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Well... you don't get characters going at it hammer and tong like in Lust Caution but yes. Notorious is off the charts horny!
I wasn't much feeling the chemistry between Paul Newman and Julie Andrews though, I have to admit
I wasn't much feeling the chemistry between Paul Newman and Julie Andrews though, I have to admit
Yeah, I don't remember the score at all really, which isn't used for that amazing scene anyway
November 26, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Yeah, I don't remember the score at all really, which isn't used for that amazing scene anyway
Horny slow-motion Hitchcock!
November 26, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Horny slow-motion Hitchcock!
All the better without it, yes. Hitchcock originally wanted the same for the shower scene in Psycho, but that time I think we can agree that the music worked
November 26, 2025 at 9:20 PM
All the better without it, yes. Hitchcock originally wanted the same for the shower scene in Psycho, but that time I think we can agree that the music worked
It's a weird feeling to have seen perhaps more Hitchcock films (23?) than almost any other director and yet not quite half his total number of features
November 26, 2025 at 9:15 PM
It's a weird feeling to have seen perhaps more Hitchcock films (23?) than almost any other director and yet not quite half his total number of features
Yes! I love a really messy protracted murder! I might have to get Lust Caution on disc because I'm desperate to see it again
November 26, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Yes! I love a really messy protracted murder! I might have to get Lust Caution on disc because I'm desperate to see it again
Although Hitch was no stranger to the genre, it is interesting to think of this in relation to the 60s spy boom. Many saw it as an old-fashioned take on a fashionable genre, which is not entirely unfair but there's enough of Hitchcock's visual flair to keep it interesting. 3/3
November 26, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Although Hitch was no stranger to the genre, it is interesting to think of this in relation to the 60s spy boom. Many saw it as an old-fashioned take on a fashionable genre, which is not entirely unfair but there's enough of Hitchcock's visual flair to keep it interesting. 3/3
There is a centrepiece scene of violence that is brilliantly messy and shocking, and the film struggles to maintain its tensions thereafter. There are also some inexplicably awful digressions that could easily have been cut, and the plot is bananas, but mostly it is fun and engaging. 2/3
November 26, 2025 at 9:02 PM
There is a centrepiece scene of violence that is brilliantly messy and shocking, and the film struggles to maintain its tensions thereafter. There are also some inexplicably awful digressions that could easily have been cut, and the plot is bananas, but mostly it is fun and engaging. 2/3
been wanting to see this for a long time but seeing Wendy and Lucy the other day pushed me to place my order
November 26, 2025 at 5:08 PM
been wanting to see this for a long time but seeing Wendy and Lucy the other day pushed me to place my order
Some would have us believe that this is "performative reading"
November 26, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Some would have us believe that this is "performative reading"
yeah, that's quite radical. Such a horrible way to go, and yet he just seems to accept it
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
yeah, that's quite radical. Such a horrible way to go, and yet he just seems to accept it
Yeah, he slaps one of the girls about quite a bit too. I know it is the early 70s and not especially unusual but it wasn't clear how the film wanted you to feel about it
November 26, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Yeah, he slaps one of the girls about quite a bit too. I know it is the early 70s and not especially unusual but it wasn't clear how the film wanted you to feel about it